New Connections: Increasing Diversity of RWJF Programming

New Connections: Increasing Diversity of RWJF Programming awards 12- to 24-month grants to early to mid-career researchers and scholars who have been underrepresented in research and evaluation activities supported by RWJF. The program is designed to expand the diversity of perspectives that inform RWJF program strategy and introduce new researchers and scholars to the Foundation. New Connections provides up to 13 grants annually of $100,000 each to support mid-career Consultants and early career Junior Investigators to address specific research and evaluation questions posed by RWJF program teams.

Consultants have 10-15 years experience in research and evaluation and receive one year of funding. Junior investigators have completed doctorates within the last seven years and are funded for two years. In addition to broad qualitative assistance to guide and enlighten their work, researchers are provided with several professional development opportunities including the Research & Coaching Clinic, Annual Symposium, and other training events. Grantees are also assigned an RWJF liaison to help them develop a better understanding of their particular program area and of RWJF in general.

Eligibility

Have between 10–15 years of research and/or evaluation experience related to relevant health and health care fields.

Be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States or its territories at the time of application.

Be from a group that has been historically underrepresented in the research and evaluation activities supported by RWJF, such as people from ethnic or racial minority or low-income communities and/or first-generation college graduates.

Be a first-time principal investigator/program contract grantee of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Be committed to the goals and mission of New Connections, RWJF and its specific interest areas.

Junior Investigators must:

Have completed a doctorate within the last seven years.

Be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States or its territories at the time of application.

Be affiliated with or sponsored by a nonprofit university or an organization that is tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and is not a private Foundation as defined under Section 509(a) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Be from a group that has historically been underrepresented in the research activities supported by RWJF, such as people from ethnic or racial minority groups, first-generation college graduates and people from low-income communities.

Be a first-time New Connections Junior Investigator.

Provide evidence of research skills addressing various aspects of health and health care (research fellowship or equivalent training or experience).

Be committed to the goals and mission of New Connections, RWJF and its specific interest areas.